Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machinery engineered and designed to elevate employees and tools to a particular height for the completion of jobs. The type of machinery varies with the specific make and unit. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs needing work at high levels needed to be done with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous workers safe and increased the overall productivity of similar jobs.
The three main types of aerial work platforms are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These types of machinery could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of a pinion and rack system or with screws or by hydraulics. These units may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered models needing an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American industrialist and inventor who is widely credited to devising the aerial work platform. Nonetheless, during the year 1966, before JLG's very first unit, a company called Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift unit.
During the year 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove together with his wife decided to take a road trip. They opted to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately witnessed 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This tragic event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which can lift employees safely in the air for them to do maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
When John returned home from his vacation, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership along with 2 friends. They immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform in 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.